Damien Hirst Bristol, UK, b. 1965
Further images
In his famous 'Spot Paintings' series, ever attuned to allusions and theoretical discourse, Hirst reimagines the classic artistic genre of the grid, grounding it in scientific thought and the genetic structures that underpin life itself.
The uniquely coloured dots are meticulously arranged within a precise grid; the regimented pattern suggests order and structure, yet there is an underlying sense of chaos. As the artist explains, this tension arises from the lack of satisfying colour interplay: "If you look closely at one of these paintings, a strange thing happens: because of the lack of repeated colours, there is no harmony. We are used to picking out chords of the same colour and balancing them with different chords of other colours to create meaning. This can't happen. So in every painting there is a subliminal sense of unease; yet the colours project so much joy it's hard to feel it, but it's there."
Exhibitions
Damien Hirst. Tate Modern, London, UK. Apr 4–Sep 9, 2012Damien Hirst. Gary Tatintsian Gallery. Mar 31—Jun 1, 2017
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